Combination washing-extracting machine

ABSTRACT

A COMBINATION WASHING-EXTRACTING MACHINE INCLUDING A MOUNTING FRAME DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO AN OUTER SHELL OF THE MACHIEN AND PIVOTALLY SECURED TO A FLOOR OR SUPORT SURFACE AND POWER OPERATED MEANS COOPERATING WITH THE PIVOTAL MOUNTING TO FORM A SECOND ORDER LEVER ARRANGEMENT FOR SELECTIVELY TILTING THE MACHINE ABOUT A TRANSVERSE AXIS TO FACILITATE UNLOADING LAUNDRY MATERIAL CONTAINED WITHIN A WASHING DRUM DISPOSED COAXIALLY OF THE SHELL, THROUGH AN EGRESS OPENING FORMED IN AN END CLOSURE OF THE WASHING DRUM. THE FRAME MAY BE INCLUDE VIBRATION ABSORBING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE SHELL AND LOWERMOST FRAMING MEMBERS. A SHAFT IS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME END INCLUDES JOURNAL PORTIONS PROJECTING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM OPPOSED SIDES AT LOWERMOST EDGES OF AN END PORTION OF THE FRAME AND JOURNALLED EDGES OF AN END PORTION SECURED TO THE SUPPORT SURFACE. THE POWER OPERATED MEANS INCLUDES A PAIR OF FLUID-OPERATED CYLINDERS ARRANGED TO APPLY AN UPWARDLY DIRECTED FORCE TO THE MACHINE AT A POINT COPOLANAR WITH A LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE WASHING DRUM AND AT AN END OF THE MACHINE OPPOSITE THE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED SHAFT. ALSO, THE IMAGES AND EGRESS OPENING FORMED IN AN END OF THE WASHING DRUM IS SELECTIVELY CLOSED BY A RELEASABLE DOOR MEANS HINGED AT A LOWER EDGE PORTION TO FORM A SHELF IN ITS OPEN POSITION ACROSS WHICH LAUNDRY MATERIAL SLIDES DURING THE UNLOADING PROCESS.

March 16, 1971 HERTK; 3,570,273

COMBINATION WASHING-EXTRACTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 26, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVli/V'IUR.

ZVQQ: 1292 5 March 16, 1971 M. HERTIG comaxmmou WASHING-EXTRACTING mcnmm 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 26, 1968 IN V15 "101%.

S Y A R O "I. T A

United States Patent 3,570,273 COMBINATION WASHlNG-EXTRACTING MACHINE Max Hertig, Syracuse, N.Y., assignor to G. A. Braun, Inc., Syracuse, N.Y. Filed Nov. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 778,992 Int. Cl. D06f 37/20 U.S. Cl. 6823.1 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination washing-extracting machine including a mounting frame directly attached to an outer shell of the machine and pivotally secured to a floor or support surface and power operated means cooperating with the pivotal mounting to form a second order lever arrangement for selectively tilting the machine about a transverse axis to facilitate unloading laundry material contained within a washing drum disposed coaxially of the shell, through an egress opening formed in an end closure of the washing drum. The frame may include vibration absorbing means interposed between the shell and lowermost framing members. A shaft is attached to the frame and includes journal portions projecting laterally outwardly from opposed sides at lowermost edges of an end portion of the frame and journalled in a pair of bearing blocks secured to the support surface. The power operated means includes a pair of fluid-operated cylinders arranged to apply an upwardly directed force to the machine at a point coplanar with a longitudinal axis of the washing drum and at an end of the machine opposite the pivotally mounted shaft. Also, the ingress and egress opening formed in an end of the washing drum is selectively closed by a releasable door means hinged at a lower edge portion to form a shelf in its open position across which laundry material slides during the unloading process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to commercial laundry equipment and more particularly refers to commercial washingextracting machines.

Description of the prior art In one form of commercial laundry equipment utilized for the combined operation of washing and extracting soiled laundry material, a rotatably mounted washing cylinder or drum is disposed for rotation about a horizontally extending axis. The rotatably mounted washing drum may be formed with a foraminated cylindrical side wall providing outlets for fluid extracted from the laundry material by centrifugal force created by rapidly rotating the drum during the extracting operation.

The washing drum and shell may be mounted on a support frame, and the frame in turn is supported by the floor with suitable vibration isolaters interposed therebetween. In such arrangements it is desirable to securely clamp the shell and washing drum to the mounting frame so that the shell and drum move together with the mounting frame as a single unit.

A recognized economy in the operation of commercial washing-extracting machines involves rapid automatic unloading of the machines. One method of rapidly unloading laundry material from machines of this type involves unloading the machine gravitationally down to a depository such as a conveyor system for removal of the washed material to another station. In gravitationally unloading the machine, the front end of the washing cylinder is tipped downwardly and the laundry material spills from a door opening formed in the front end portion of the cyl- Patented Mar. 16, 1971 ice inder, while the washing and extracting operations are performed with the washing cylinder horizontally disposed. Thus, although mounting the washing cylinder for tipping during the unloading operation is desirable, the washing cylinder also should be rigidly mounted on a frame including vibration isolaters, during the washing and particularly the extracting operation.

To accomplish both desirable features-providing piv' otal mounting means for the washing cylinder and se-- curely mounting the washing drum and its associated shell to a mounting frame including vibration isolatersthe prior art discloses washing machines provided with means permitting relative movement between the washing cylinder and mounting frame to facilitate gravitational unloading of the laundry material from the cylinder. Most prior art mounting means are insufficient for tightly clamping the washing cylinder to the mounting frame to the degree necessary to withstand the substantial vibrations generated by the relatively high extracting speeds. Any looseness between the washing cylinder and the mounting frame as may be occasioned by a less than tight connection therebetween may be highly detrimental to the machine because of the substantial vibratory forces created, particularly with the heavy loads of a commercial machine. Some prior art laundry equipment permitt ng relative movement between the washing cylinder and the mounting frame have included means assuring that the washing cylinder is tightly clamped to the mounting frame during the extracting operation, however, these clamp ng devices have been rather complex, thus substantially increasing the cost of the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides means securely fastening a shell and a washing cylinder or drum coaxially mounted within the shell of a commercial washing-extracting machine to a mounting frame during washing and extracting operations so that any vibratory forces which may result from an imbalance of the load move the machine as a unit, while also permitting tipping of the drum to an inclined position for facilitating gravitational unloading of laundry material from the washing drum.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the shell of the washing-extracting machine is secured to a mounting frame by welding or other suitable positive securement means, and the mounting frame in turn has a lowermost edge of a front end portion thereof pivotally supported on a floor or other support surface. With this arrangement, it is not necessary to releasably clamp the shell to the mounting frame, thereby eliminating any elaborate clamping means interposed between the shell and the mounting frame.

To tip the front end portion of the machine downwardly for unloading laundry material from the washing drum, power operated means are provided and arranged to cooperate with the pivotal mounting of the frame to form a second order lever arrangement. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the power operated means includes a pair of pressurized fluid-operated cylinders with a housing of the cylinder pivotally supported on the support surface and with a piston rod of the cylinder pivotally attached to a rear end portion of the machine at a point coplanar with a longitudinal axis of the washing drum.

The mounting frame generally includes upper frame members and lower frame members disposed generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the washing drum and vibration isolating means interposed between the upper and lower frame members. The lower frame members are securely attached to a shaft having opposed end portions thereof journalled within bearing blocks which in turn are securely supported on the floor. The vibration 3 isolating means may take on several configurations, although a preferred embodiment thereof includes both coil springs and piston-type shock absorbers operating in conjunction to dampen any vibratory forces created during an extracting operation.

The washing drum, which may be longitudinally divided into several separate compartments, generally includes a foraminated cylindrical side wall having open end portions thereof closed by circular enclosures With a front enclosure provided with an ingress and egress opening selectively closed by a releasable door. The door closing the ingress and egress opening is hinged along an edge thereof to open downwardly and outwardly when the washing drum is stopped at an unloading position. In its fully open position, the door is disposed substantially parallel to a longitudina axis of the washing drum with an inside surface thereof projecting upwardly, thus, the inside surface of the door, which has been cleaned during the washing operation, forms a clean shelf across which the laundry material spills during the unloading operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts through the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a commercial washing-extracting machine embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view illustrating the ma- DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, a combination washingextracting machine embodying the features of the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The machine 10 comprises an imperforate cylindrical housing or shell 11 extending on a horizontal axis between rectangularly shaped front and back plates 12 and 13, respectively.

Situated within and disposed coaxially of the housing or shell 11 is a washing cylinder or drum 14 in which soiled material to be laundered is deposited. The washing drum 14 is mounted for rotation on a shaft 16 having opposed end portions thereof journaled in a pair of bearing blocks 17 and 18, respectively secured to the front plate 12 and the back plate 13.

The washing drum 14 comprises a foraminated cylindrical side wall 19 and a pair of circular enclosures, as at 21, closing open ends of the cylindrical side wall to form a closed drum. The washing drum 14 is longitudinally divided into three separate compartments by partitions 22, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Although the washing machine 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, includes a washing drum longitudinally divided into three separate compartments, the washing machine 10 may be provided with a washing cylinder presenting one unitary open pocket or presenting two or four separate rockets, as illustrated, respectively in FIGS. 5 and 6. The washing drums 14a and 14b dilfer from the washing drulc 14 only in the number of pockets provided, and like parts are designated by the same reference numerals to which an a or b has been added.

The enclosure 22 disposed at a front end portion of the machine 10 has an opening, as at 24, in registry with each one of the three separate pockets 23 providing ingress and egress means through which the laundry material is loaded into and removed from the washing drum 14. A hinged door 26 is provided for each of the three separate openings 24 and is latched in a closed position during the washing and extracting operations. During the unloading and loading operations each opening 24- is sequentially moved into registry with a corresponding opening 27 formed in the front plate 13 to provide access to the ingress and egress means of each compartment. The opening 27 of the front plate 13 is also provided with a hinged door 28 which is opened to permit loading and unloading of the machine and which is closed during the operation of the machine.

It is contemplated by the present invention, that the door 26 be provided with a pair of hinges 29, 29 along an edge thereof, as at 31, which is disposed parallel to a radial axis of the washing drum 14, thereby to cause the door to pivot outwardly and downwardly when opened. When the door 26 is open, an outwardly projecting surface thereof engages a lower lip 32 of the opening 27 formed in the front wall 13 and is held in a substantially horizontal position, thereby providing a shelf across which the clean laundry material slides during the unloading operation. In this manner, a clean surface is provided to form the shelf, since the side surface, as at 33, of the door 26 which projects upwardly when the door is opened also projects inwardly when the door is closed to form a portion of the drum interior and is cleaned during the washing operation.

During the washing operation, the washing cylinder or drum 14 is rotated at tumbling speed by means of an electric motor 36, and during an extracting operation the drum is rotated at a higher extracting speed by a relatively high speed motor 37. Both motors 36 and 37 are supported on a shelf 38 which in turn is secured to both the shell 11 and the back plate 13. The cylinder shaft 15 is drivingly connected to both motors 36 and 37 by a multibelt drive which comprises a pair of sheaves 39, 39 mounted on the low speed motor 3-6, another pair of sheaves 41, 41 mounted on the high speed motor 32 and four relatively large sheaves as at 42 keyed to the cylinder shaft. For safety purposes, a removable shroud 43 encloses the multi-belt drive.

Although a compartmentalized washing drum such as 14 substantially reduces the imbalance of the washing load, the drum 14 is subjected to relatively high vibratory forces during both the washing and extracting operations, and particularly during the high speeds encountered during extracting operations. In order to accommodate such forces without excessive transmission thereof to a floor or other support surface, as indicated at 45, on which the machine rests, the shell 11 and the washing drum 14 are supported on a pair of mounting units indicated generally at 46 disposed on opposed sides of the machine 10 and each including a pair of vibration dampers as indicated at 47, interposed between the drum 14 and the floor 45.

Each framing unit 46 comprises a base plate 48 which serves as a support for a pair of the vibration dampening units 47 and an upper support bar 49 directly attached to the outer shell 11 and the front and back plates 12 and 13, respectively. The upper support bar 49 is connected to the vibration dampening units 47 by a box framework including four upright channel members 51 inter-connected by top and bottom cross members 52 and 53, respectively.

Each vibration dampening unit 47 comprises an inverted U-shaped bracket 54 secured to the base plate 48 and having a horizontally disposed top plate 56. A rod 57 extends slidably through the plate 56 and has a spring retainer 58 mounted at a top end thereof by means of a threaded nut 59. A heavy coil spring 61 is interposed between the plate 56 of the U-shaped bracket 54 and the spring retainer 58. A channel shaped attachment bracket 63 is mounted at a lowermost end of the rod 57 beneath the top plate 56 and is retained on the rod by means of a threaded nut 63. An end portion of each attachment bracket 62 is secured to either the front plate 12 or the rear plate *13, thereby inter-connecting the pair of vibration dampening units 47, 47 disposed respectively at both the front and rear ends of the drum 14 by means of the front plate 12 and the back plate 13.

Also, each vibration dampening unit 47 includes a piston type shock absorber 66 having one end portion thereof pivotally mounted to the base plate 48 by means of a mounting bracket 67 and a pin 68. Another end portion of the shock absorber 66 is pivotally affixed to a pair of upright channel members 51 of the box frame supporting the side rails 49 by means of a mounting bracket 69 extending between the pair of rails and having an aperture formed therethrough for receiving a stub shaft 71 extending from the shock absorber and retained within the aperture by means of a threaded nut 70. Thus, the two vibration dampening units 47, 47 disposed on each side of the shell 11 are inter-connected by the box frame including the upright members 51 and the upper and lower cross members 52 and 53. Therefore, the shell 11 having the washing drum 14 rotatably supported therewithin and also having the end plates 12 and 13 affixed thereto is connected in fixed assembly with the four springs 61 and the four shock absorbers 66 forming the four vibration dampening units 47, which are, in turn, supported by the pair of base plates 48.

In accordance with the present invention, the base members 48, 48 disposed on either side of the washing drum 14 are inter-connected along a front edge portion thereof by a shaft 72 which is welded or secured by other suitable securernent means to the base members. The shaft 72 is positioned relative to the base members 48, 48 so that a longitudinal axis thereof is coextensive with or lies slightly in front of a forwardmost edge portion as at 73 of each base member, thereby to permit the base members to be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 72 without interferring with a surface extending beneath the base members. The shaft 72 extends transversely across the front of the machine and has opposed end portions thereof extending beyond opposed side edges of the front plate 13.

To provide a means for permitting pivotal movement of the machine 10 to facilitate gravitational unloading of the washing drum 14, a pair of bearing blocks 74, 74 are provided and the opposed end portions of the shaft 72 are journalled within the bearing blocks. The bearing blocks 74 are disposed outwardly of the opposed side edges of the front plate 12 and are secured to the floor or support surface 45 by means of bolts as at 75 passing through the bearings and engaging into the floor. The bearing 74, 74 are preferably of the sleeve bearing type and are sized to closely fit the opposed journalled portions of the shaft 72.

As illustrated in the drawings, the bearing blocks 74, 74 are supported on a pair of horizontally disposed plates 76, 76, however, the bearings may be directly supported on the floor 45.

Also, in accordance with the present invention, poweroperated means are provided for exerting a force onto the machine 10 to cause the washing drum 14 to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 72 to facilitate gravitational unloading of laundry material disposed within the washing drum. The power operated means includes a pair of fluid-operated power cylinders as at 80, with both cylinders disposed toward the rear of the machine 10 and on either side thereof. Actuation of the cylinders 80, which may be of the hydraulic or pneumatic type, causes the rear end of the machine 10 to raise and the machine to pivot about the longitudinal cylinder axis of the shaft 72, thereby to tilt the washing drum 14 for causing laundry material disposed therewithin to spill over the door 26 and onto the conveyor system indicated generally at 81 or other suitable means for receiving the clean laundry material.

Each fluid operated power cylinder 80 is characterized as comprising a piston 82 and a piston rod 83 reciprocally carried within a housing 84. Suitable pressure lines 86 and 87 are connected to the cylinder housing 84 for transmitting pressurized fluid to the power cylinder. The power cylinder 80 may be of the double-acting type, and with such a power cylinder transmission or pressurized fluid through the pressure line 86 will cause the piston rod 83 to move outwardly of the cylinder housing, while transmission of pressurized fluid to the pressure line 87 will cause the piston rod 83 to move inwardly of the housing 84.

The cylinder housing '84 has an end portion thereof pivotally connected to the horizontally disposed support plate 76 by means of a yoke 89 formed on the cylinder housing, an attachment plate 91 secured to the support plate 76 and a pin 92 passing through the yoke and the attachment plate.

Also, a yoke 93 is provided at an outermost end portion of the piston rod 83 for attachment to the machine 10. The machine 10 is provided with a pair of attachment means secured to the back plate 13 for pivotally receiving the yoke 93 of the piston rod 83. Each attachment means includes a shelf member 94 secured on a rearwardly projecting surface of the rear plate 13 and braced against upward movement by at least one bracing plate 96. An attachment plate 97 is secured to an underneath surface of the shelf 94 and projects downwardly therefrom. The attachment plate 97 is vertically disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the washing drum 14 and has an aperture passing therethrough forming a cylindrical bearing surface having an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal axis of the washing drum. The yoke 93 straddles the attachment plate 97 and a pin 98 passes through aligned apertures in the yoke 93 and engages the cylindrical hearing surfaces formed through the attachment plate, thereby pivotally mounting the piston rod 83 to the machine 10.

As noted, the power cylinders cooperate with the pivotally mounted shaft 72 to form a second order lever arrangement with a fulcrum point along the longitudinal cylinder axis of the shaft 72 and a point of force application on a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the washing drum. Therefore, upward movement of the piston rod 83 causes the entire washing-extracting machine 10 to pivot about the shaft 72 and downwardly tilt the front enclosure 22 including the egress opening 24 for permitting gravitationally unloading the laundry material from the drum.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A washing-extracting machine comprising:

an outer imperforate shell forming a housing having a door controlled access opening formed in a front wall of said housing;

a washing drum rotatably mounted in said shell for rotation on an axis intersecting said front wall of said housing and having a foraminated, cylindrical side wall and a pair of enclosures closing open ends of said side wall to form a closed drum;

one of said enclosures having a drum opening therethrough disposed for selective registration with said access opening and forming ingress and egress means for laundry material to an interior of said washing drum;

means forming a releasable closure for said drum opening;

motor means for rotating said washing drum at washing and extracting speeds;

a mounting frame directly attached to said shell;

said mounting frame including vibration absorbing means disposed between said housing and said supporting surface for dampening vibratory forces created by rapidly rotating said washing drum at washing and extracting speeds;

means pivotally mounting said frame to a support surface; and

power-operated means operatively attached to said shell and said support surface for cooperating with said pivotal mounting means to form a second order lever arrangement for pivoting said shell and said washing drum about said pivotal mounting means, whereby said shell and said washing drum are selectively pivoted so that said enclosure having said ingress and egress means is tilted to an inclined position to facilitate gravitationally unloading laundry material from said washing drum through both of said openings.

2. A washing-extracting machine as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

said washing drum being longitudinally divided into a plurality of separate compartments; and

one said opening in said enclosure being provided for each said compartment for selective registration with said access opening.

3. A washing-extracting machine as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

said closure means for said opening in a closed position having inwardly and outwardly projecting side surfaces, with said inwardly projecting surface forming a portion of said interior of said washing drum during washing and extracting operations; and

said closure means being hinged along an edge portion thereof, during an unloading operation said edge portion being disposed along a lowermost edge portion of said closure means to permit said closure means to be pivoted downwardly and outwardly to form a shelf with said normally inwardly projecting surface projecting substantially upwardly,

thereby providing a shelf having a clean surface across which laundry material may slide during the unloading operation.

4. A washing-extracting machine as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

said pivotal mounting means including shaft portions affixed to said mounting frame at a lowermost edge of an end portion thereof, and extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions from said frame, and

bearing means secured to said support surface and having said shaft portions journalled therewithin to pivotally support said mounting frame.

5. A washing-extracting machine as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

said power operated means exerting a generally upwardly directed force on said machine at points lying in a plane containing a longitudinal cylinder axis of said washing drum.

6. A washing-extracting machine as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

said power operated means including a pair of fluid operated power cylinders disposed rearwardly of said machine at opposite side thereof and having a housing and a powered piston rod extending from said housing with one of said housing and said piston rod pivotally mounted to said support surface and with the other of said housing and said piston rod pivotally mounted to said machine.

7. A washing-extracting machine comprising:

an outer imperforate shell forming a housing having a door controlled access opening formed in a front wall of said housing;

a washing drum rotatably mounted in said shell for rotation on an axis intersecting said front wall of said housing and having a foraminated, cylindrical side wall and a pair of enclosures closing open ends of said side wall to form a closed drum;

one of said enclosures having a drum opening therethrough disposed for selective registration with said access opening and forming ingress and egress means for laundry material to an interior of said washing drum;

means forming a releasable closure for said drum opening;

motor means for rotating said washing drum at washing and extracting speeds;

a mounting frame directly attached to said shell;

said mounting frame including lower frame members attached to said pivotal mounting means and contacting said support surface when said shell and said washing drum are positioned in a washing and extracting position, upper frame members directly attached to said shell, and vibration absorbing means interposed between and interconnected with said lower frame members and said upper frame members;

means pivotally mounting said frame to a support surface; and

power-operated means operatively attached to said shell and said support surface for cooperating with said pivotal mounting means to form a second order lever arrangement for pivoting said shell and said washing drum about said pivotal mounting means,

whereby said shell and said washing drum are selectively pivoted so that said enclosure having said ingress and egress means is tilted to an inclined position to facilitate gravitationally unloading laundry material from said washing drum through both of said openings.

8. A washing-extracting machine comprising:

an outer imperforate shell forming a housing having a door controlled access opening formed in a front wall of said housing;

a washing drum rotatably mounted in said shell for rotation on an axis intersecting said front wall of said housing and having a foraminated, cylindrical side wall and a pair of enclosures closing open ends of said side wall to form a closed drum;

one of said enclosures having a drum opening therethrough disposed for selective registration with said access opening and forming ingress and egress means for laundry material to an interior of said washing drum;

means forming a releasable closure for said drum opening;

motor means for rotating said washing drum at washing and extracting speeds;

a mounting frame directly attached to said shell and including a pair of horizontally disposed lower frame members extending on opposite sides of said shell;

said pivotal mounting means including,

a shaft inter-connecting said pair of lower frame members and extending transversely across a front end portion of said machine and having journal portions extending outwardly of said mounting frame at opposite sides thereof, and

a pair of bearings secured to said support surface outwardly of said frame at opposite sides thereof and having said journal portions of said shaft received therewithin to pivotally support said mounting frame; means pivotally mounting said frame to a support surface; and power-operated means operatively attached to said shell and said support surface for cooperating with said pivotal mounting means to form a second order lever arrangement for pivoting said shell and said washing drum about said pivotal mounting means,

whereby said shell and said washing drum are selectively pivoted so that said enclosure having said ingress and egress means is tilted to an inclined position to facilitate gravitationally unloading laundry material from said washing drum through both of said openings.

9. A combination washing-extracting machine including an outer imperforate shell forming a housing having an access opening formed in a wall portion thereof, a washing drum mounted in the shell for rotation about an axis and having a door controlled opening formed in a wall portion of the drum and disposed for selective registration with said access opening to form ingress and egress means for laundry material into an interior of the drum, wherein the improvement comprises:

a mounting frame having a portion directly attached to the outer imperforate shell; means pivotally mounting the frame on a support surface so that the door controlled opening is tilted to an inclined position for facilitating gravitationally unloading laundry material from the washing drum; said mounting frame including vibration absorbing means disposed between said housing and said support surface for dampening vibratory forces created by rapidly rotating the washing drum at washing and extracting speeds; power operated means operatively attached to the shell and the support surface for cooperating with said pivotal mounting means to form a second order lever arrangement for pivoting said shell and said washing drum about said pivotal mounting means. 10. A combination washing-extracting machine as defined in claim 9 and further characterized by:

said mounting frame including lower frame members attached to said pivotal mounting means and contacting said support surface when the shell and the washing drum are positioned in a washing-extracting position, and upper frame members directly attached to the shell;

and said vibration absorbing means being interposed bebetween and interconnected with said lower frame members and said upper frame members.

10 11. A combination washing-extracting machine as defined in claim 9 and further characterized by:

said mounting frame including a pair of horizontally disposed lower frame mem bers extending on opposite sides of the shell; said pivotal mounting means including a shaft interconnecting said pair of lower frame members and having journal portions extending outwardly of the mounting frame at opposite sides thereof, and a pair of bearings secured to said support surface outwardly of said frame at opposite sides thereof and having said journal portions of said shaft received therewithin to pivotally support said mounting frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,428,489 10/1947 Goodreau 682l0 3,417,582 12/1968 Hertig et al 68210X FOREIGN PATENTS 592,134 9/1947 Great Britain 68-210 616,753 2/196-1 Italy 682l0 WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 6823.5, 143, 210 a 

